Two spots in the FIFA World Cup 2026 semifinals have been booked. France defeated Morocco 2-0 at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough on Friday night to reach the last four, and Spain beat Belgium late to secure the other confirmed semifinal berth. That sets up a France–Spain semifinal in Arlington, Texas — a repeat of the 2024 Euros semifinal that France also won. Attention now turns to Saturday’s two remaining quarterfinals: Norway v England in Miami Gardens, and Argentina v Switzerland in Kansas City.
France 2-0 Morocco: Deja Vu at Gillette Stadium
France reached their second consecutive World Cup semifinal with a controlled, tactical performance against Morocco. Kylian Mbappé opened the scoring in the 34th minute with a low finish across goal after a defence-splitting pass from Aurélien Tchouaméni. Ousmane Dembélé sealed the win with an 87th-minute strike, taking his tournament tally to six goals — putting him level with Golden Boot leader Lionel Messi.
Morocco, semifinalists in 2022, will look back on missed chances — particularly from Youssef En-Nesyri who hit the crossbar with the score 0-0 in the 22nd minute.
Spain 2-1 Belgium: Yamal Wins It Late
Spain overcame a stubborn Belgium 2-1 in a match that was decided by a Lamine Yamal thunderbolt in the 89th minute. The 19-year-old — playing his second consecutive Grand Slam-like tournament for the national side — beat Thibaut Courtois with an unstoppable curling shot from 22 yards.
Alvaro Morata had put Spain ahead in the 41st minute; Kevin De Bruyne equalised on the hour mark with what might be one of his final major international goals.
Semifinal One: France vs Spain, Arlington
The semifinal is scheduled for Tuesday at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas, kicking off at 3:00 PM local (1:00 AM PKT Wednesday). France defeated Spain 2-1 in the Euro 2024 semifinal in a game that produced one of Lamine Yamal’s iconic performances. Spain will be seeking revenge.
Saturday’s Quarterfinals
- Norway vs England — 5:00 PM local at Hard Rock Stadium, Miami Gardens (2:00 AM PKT Sunday). Erling Haaland has recovered from a knock and will start against a Harry Kane-led England.
- Argentina vs Switzerland — 9:00 PM local at Arrowhead Stadium, Kansas City (6:00 AM PKT Sunday). Argentina’s Lionel Messi will be looking to add to his six goals as the reigning champions push for back-to-back titles.
Second Semifinal: Winners at Mercedes-Benz
The winners of Norway/England and Argentina/Switzerland meet at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta for the second semifinal, also scheduled for Tuesday.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who won the France vs Morocco World Cup 2026 quarterfinal?
France defeated Morocco 2-0 with goals from Kylian Mbappé and Ousmane Dembélé to reach the semifinals.
When is Argentina’s World Cup 2026 quarterfinal against Switzerland?
The match is scheduled for Saturday, 11 July at 9:00 PM local (6:00 AM PKT Sunday) at Arrowhead Stadium, Kansas City.
Who plays France in the World Cup 2026 semifinal?
France will face Spain in the semifinal at AT&T Stadium, Arlington on Tuesday, 14 July 2026.
Where is the World Cup 2026 final?
The final will be played at MetLife Stadium, New York/New Jersey on Sunday, 19 July 2026.
